Valve action for pipe organs



April 10, 1928.

H. F. WATERS VALVE ACTION FOR PIPE ORGANS Filed Feb. 19,

1760272252 "I 11212221? 7 iiiill l iiiiil //v v/s/vroe: HA 2 B) F. WA T626.

5 Y WM ATTOBNEYJ Patented Apr. 10, 192 8.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY F. WATERS, OF ST, LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VALVE ACTION FOR PIPE ORGANS.

Application filed February 19, 1927. Serial No. 169,466.

This invention relates generally to pipe organs, and particularly to an improved valve action therefor, the predominant ob ject of the invention being to produce an improved valve action of the direct or blowing type as differentiated from the indirect or exhausting type, which will function in a highly eiiicient manner.

Another object of the invention is to produce a simple valve action of this type which is made in the form of a unit. One of my improved valve actions which is complete and self-contained in every respect is asso ciated with each individual pipe of the organ and its unitary structure is such that -it may be removed as a unit from its position within the wind chest of the organ at the minimum expense of time and trouble for the purpose of repair or replacement, or for any other purpose.

Other novel and advantageous features of construction in connection with my improved valve action will be apparent from the description hereinafter given.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved valve action, portions of the wind chest and a pipe of the organ being associated with said valve action;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the parts of the valve action in moved positions;

Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-section on line H of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of my invention.

In Figs. 1 and 2 "of the drawing, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, A designates the wind chest of an organ and B, a pipe thereof, said wind chest and pipe being of the usual construction and the pipe being supported in the ordinary manner. The top wall A of the wind chest A is provided with an air passageway C formed therethrough and the toe portion of the'pipe B is provided with an orifice D which communicates with said passageway C, whereby air which passes through said passageway C may pass into said pipe through the orifice D.

My improved valve action, which is designated generally in the drawing by the reference character 1, is made in the form of a unit and may be introduced into or removed from the wind chest of the organ as such, and said valve action comprises a support for the parts of the valve action, which support in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, takes the form of a housing 2, but it is obvious that this support may be in other forms. The housing 2 is composed of a dished lower portion 3 provided with a circumferential horizontal flange 4 and a downwardly extended centrally located tubular portion 5 having internal screwthreads at its lower end. The upper portion of the housing 2 includes an annular upwardly inclined wall 6 provided with apertures 6 formed therethrough, a circumferential horizontal flange 7 similar to the flange 4 of the lower portion. ofthe housing, and a crimped top wall 8. Gentrally of the top wall 8 of the housing, the material thereof is bent upwardly to form a vertical annular wall which surrounds an air passageway 9 extending through the top wall of the housing and communicating with the interior thereof. When the housing 2 is arranged in place within the wind chest of the organ, said housing is so located that the passageway 9 thereof will surround the lower end of the air passageway 3 in the top wall A of the wind chest, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the top edge of the vertical annular wall surrounding the passageway 9, which is more or less sharp due to said vertical wall being formed of thin material, will be caused to bite into the material of said top wall A of the wind chest, whereby a relativel tight joint between said parts is obtainec. The lower annular edge of the vertical annular wall of the housing top is located at a point below the lower edge of the crimped portion of the top wall of said housing, and said lo er edge of said annular wall provides a valve seat 9, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Located within the housing 2 of the valve action is a hollow receptacle, or a pneumatic pouch as it is called in this art. which is capable of being inflated and which is adapted to function as a valve to control passage of air from thewind chest of the organ to the associated pipe thereof, said pouch being formed by the lower portion of the housing 2 which functions also as the lower portion of the pouch and a flexible upper wall 10 formed of leather or other suitable material. The marginal edge port-ion of the flexible upper wall 10 has secured to it a gasket in the form of an annular strip of scribed, the air within the pouch will be per mitted to pass therefrom through the passageway 12 to the organ pipe B, and as the armature-valve 18 is drawn into close contact with the top face of the plug 13, passage of air from the wind chest A through the passageways 15 and into the pouch, is prevented. When the air within the pouch is permitted to pass therefrom and passage of additional air into said pouch is prevented as described, it is plain that the pressure per square inch of the air acting against the top face of the flexible wall 10 beyond the circumferential edge of the disk 11 will be considerably greater than the pressure per square inch of the air within the pouch. Consequently, thefiexible wall will be forced downwardly and the valve 11 will be carried away from the valve seat 9, with the result that air from the wind chest of the organ may pass freely through the apertures 6 into the housing 2 and through the passageways 9, C and orifice D into the organ pipe B, whereby said organ pipe will be caused to speak.

It has been found in practice that the operation of the valve action disclosed herein is very rapid, the movement of the armaturevalve 18 and the valve 11 being almost simultaneous. In connectionwith the operation of my improved valve action, it is pointed out that all of theair which passes from the wind chest flows into the organ pipe, and there is, therefore, no loss of air, as is the case in the operation of Valve actions of the indirect or exhaust type where some of the air is exhausted to the atmosphere.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, I do not employ a housing such as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but merely provide a support 2 which supports the parts of the valve action. The support 2 which is similar in shape to the lower portion of the housing 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is fixed to the top wall of the wind chest A of the organ and I employ spacers 20, preferably in the form of tubular members, which surround the fastening devices by means of which the support 2 is fixed in place, whereby said support is maintained the desired distance from the top wall of the wind. chest. The flexible wall 10* in the structure shown in Fig. 5 is held in place by having its circun'iferential edge portion clamped by the turned-over marginal portion 2 of the support 2", and this flexible wall 10 is subject to the air pressure within the wind chest. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, I prefer to use a centrally-apertured plate 21 which is secured to the top wall of the wind chest adjacent to the air passageway C formed therethrough, said plate being provided with a downward ly extended annular potion 22 which functions as a valve seat against which the valve 11 associated with the flexible wall 10 acts.

The operation of the valve action shown in Fig. 5 is the same as the operation of the action shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and because the operationof the last mentioned action has been described, this operation will not be repeated in connected with the action shown in Fig. 5.

I claim:

1. A valve mechanism for pipe organs comprising a valve in the form of a hollow receptacle into which air may be introduced to inflate same, a portion of said hollow receptacle being movable into and out of contact with a valve seat to control passage of air to an organ pipe associated with said valve mechanism,the interior of said hollow receptacle being in communication with said organ pipe whereby air within said hollow receptacle may pass to said organ pipe, a second valve movable into and out of contact with a valve seat to control the passage of air from the interior of said receptacle to said organ pipe, and means whereby operation of one of said valves may be effected.

2. A valve mechanism for pipe organs comprising a valve in the form of a hollow receptacle into which air may be introduced to inflate same, a portion of said hollow receptacle being movable into and out of contact with a valve seat to control passage of. air to an organ pipe associated with said valve mechanism, the interior of'said hollow receptacle being in communication with said organ pipe whereby air within said hollow receptacle may pass to said organ pipe, a second valve located within said hollow receptacle and movable into and out of contact with a valve seat to control the passage of air from the interior of said hollow receptacle to said organ pipe, and means whereby operation of one of said valves may be effected.

3. A valve mechanism for pipe organs comprising a valve in the form of a hollow receptacle into which air may be introduced to inflate same, a portion of said hollow receptacle being movable into and out of contact with a valve seat to control passage of air to an organ pipe associated with said valve mechanism, said hollow receptacle being provided with an air passageway formed through a wall thereof by means of which the in erior of said. receptacle is placed in communication with said organ pipe, a second valve movable into and out of contact with a valve seat adjacent to said air passageway to control passage of air through the air passageway in the wall of said hollow receptacle, and means whereby operation of one of said valves is effected.

4. A valve mechanism for pipe organs comprising a pneumatic pouch, a port-ion of said pneumatic pouch being movable into and out of contact with a valve seat to com through the wall of said pouch and the passage of air into said pouch from said wind chest, the outer surface of'said pouch being subject to the air pressure within the wind chest whereby said pouch will be deflated upon movement of the second valve to an open position, whereby air from said wind chest will be permitted to pass into said organ pipe.

10. A valve mechanism for pipe organs comprising a housing, a valve within said housing, a second valve within said housing, said valve being independently operable and each thereof being adapted on movement to an open position to permit air to pass thereby directly to an organ pipe associated with said valve mechanism, a plug inserted through a wall of said housing, and an electrical device supported by said plug and adapted to actuate one of said valves, said plug and said electrical device being removable from the housing without necessitating access to the interior thereof.

11. A valve action for pipe organs including a pouch into which air may be intro- 2 t duced to inflate same and provided withan air passageway leading from the interior thereof to an organ pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY F. WVATERS. 

